Thursday, September 11, 2008

Apple's latest DRM will restrict your wardrobe

You've heard, of course, of digital rights management - used to control how you play, copy or otherwise use media files like music.

Now Apple wants to apply that concept to your sporting wardrobe. In US patent application 2008/0218310, the company details a way to stop us using unauthorised training shoes with the in-sole sensors it sells as part of the Nike + iPod kit. The shoe sensors work as pedometers, sending the data to your iPod as you run.

Apple's patent explains that "some people have taken it upon themselves to remove the sensor from the special pocket of the Nike shoe and place it in inappropriate locations - shoelaces, for example - or place it on non-Nike shoes".

They seem to consider this beyond the pale. The patent details a way of "pairing a sensor and an authorised garment", such as "running shoes, shirts or slacks". Companies like Nike could authorise their garments by burying an RFID chip inside it. That chip is required to activate the sensor. No longer will you be able to use the sensor you paid for with any shoe of your choosing.

Surprised Apple are following this route what with there being the case with the 'Apple Clone PCs', which expect to win the case because they believe it breaks monopoly rules for Apple to have hardware specific software. The idea of trainer specific iPods seems one step/leap/jog/bound too far.

I understand that they want to keep their technology used in the way it was intended, and i am sure that attaching devices to shoelaces or other areas could lead to increased risk of device failure/damage, however if someone buys something then i think they should have the right to dismantle and 'play' with it as much as they like.

Its a tricky one because its less accurate if its not well fastened, like in the pocket designed for the shoes. So it damages thier image if people use it then decide its inaccurate and spread the word its not much use.

But its not a good look, might cause them more pain than gain, and probably will increase failure rates too.

It's about the money. Considering it's apple that is making the restriction, it would seem they are protecting their income from related Nike sales. I am sure that Nike paid a fortune for the rights to be the approved garment supplier.

I would also think this restriction could only be enforced if the equipment was sold clearly defining, in advance, that it was for sole use with Nike product. Then the consumer had been pre-warned before they purchased.

In most case the trainers won't last as long as the pedometer. So I would be tempted to remove the pedometer from the shoes when they are worn out. This prevents your from salvaging a good pedometer from worn-out shoes. Forcing you to buy Nike again if you want to keep this feature.

I got the impression from the patent you would utterly wreck the shoe by taking the authenticating RFID chip out - to work it would have to be buried within it pretty inaccessibly. Like you'd have to dig it out of the rubber sole or something.

The real bad move on Apple's part is this exclusivity agreement. Many runners and walkers simply cannot wear Nike's product line. They are not well fit to everyone's foot, and running with shoes that are not a proper fit can cause serious long-term health problems.

"I don't see anything wrong with what apple's doing. Their doing what they need to do to protect their investment."

What you just said makes absolutely no sense. Logically, if you and Apple were in the right, Apple would be as able to do this as limit people installing Mac OS on non-Apple computers. I hope I don't need to explain why that is retarded.

Well I'll never be able to use the Nike Plus Ipod thing now. I have wide feet and Nike shoes don't fit (in mens sizes they offer "D" width only), so I have to wear New Balance shoes because they fit my feet. :(

"I understand that they want to keep their technology used in the way it was intended"

Garbage and you are a sheep for thinking this way. apple is trying to police how you use YOUR OWN PROPERTY. By removing the sensor from the Nike shoe and putting it in, say, an ADIDAS shoe, I have broken no laws. I haven't stolen anything, I haven't done anything wrong. I may have even improved the quality of the product, for ME, if the ADIDAS shoe fits better.

But apple is trying to take away that right that I have with my property.

It's simple, if you want to control use, lisence and/or rent the equipment. If I BUY something, to OWN it, as MY PROPERTY, it should be my right to do whatever I want with it. Apple has a very fascist approach to customer service.

little piezo buzzers at laces or shoes that buzz like a metronome to pace walking running or glitzy new agility things like jump grabbingthe technology is easy plus it gives shoe mfrs a fresher technology than I've heard of recentlyhttp://ww2.posetech.com/training/archives/000109.htmlgee I may have thought of it

No, sorry. I'm buying the shoe, not licensing it. Once the transaction has been completed and the item is in my possession, can throw it in a wood chipper or dissect every fiber holding it together if I so choose. Suck it Apple.

It amazes me when manufacturers seem to behave like they have the right to control devices they make after they have sold them.

It's like a mobile phone that's locked to a network. Once a phone is owned by an individual (i.e any contract has expired or subsidised purchase has had the necessary amount of credit bought for it) the owner is free to do what they like with it. Whether that is unlock it, smash it with a hammer or whatever else they please. It's up to the owner. Isn't that what an 'owner' is!?

Same with these shoe sensors. If I own them then what right does the 'previous owner' (Apple) have to decide what I can do with it?

I agree that an eventual application of Genius is iPhone. The "interesting app" will be to phone people you don't know because you might find them interesting/helpful/a source of profit. Of course, the phone will do this automatically without prompting. Then we'll really see Net 4.0 take off! sohbet http://www.sevgisohbet.com

This is very funny...its like a little kid running to his mother for every little thing.Apple wants to milk every cent of its loyal customers...anyway,people will find a way to circumvent this as well.

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